Dove Creek track, field team shows depth at Pagosa Springs meet

Dove Creek left the Terry Alley Invitational with a clear sign of where its strength is building as the season tightens: the Bulldogs scored across hurdles, throws, jumps and mid-distance races instead of leaning on a single standout. That kind of balance can decide a small-school meet, and it gave the team a useful snapshot heading into the final stretch.

At Pagosa Springs High School Track on May 2, Ambrynn Huffaker was the girls’ most versatile scorer. She took third in the 100-meter hurdles, third in the 300-meter hurdles and added seventh in the long jump, giving Dove Creek points in three different events. Ayla Coffey also delivered in the field, placing sixth in discus and fourth in shot put. Brooklyn Ivey, Olivia Edwards, Nevaeh Lien and Grace Myers rounded out the girls’ effort with a spread of results that pointed to depth rather than dependence on one or two athletes.

The boys’ side looked even more like a team finding reliable scoring options. Mason Forst finished second in the 800 meters and fourth in the 1,600, showing that Dove Creek has a distance runner who can score in more than one race. Daniel Gray matched that kind of value in the hurdles, placing third in the 110 hurdles and second in the 300 hurdles. Josh Kibel won the shot put, while Gavin Gill added third in discus and fifth in shot put, keeping the Bulldogs strong in the throws, an area that has long helped carry small-school track programs.

Grayson Hall, Dillon Vinger and Conner Beanland also added marks in sprints and jumps, and the 4x100 relay took fourth. With points coming from multiple events, Dove Creek looked capable of assembling a meet score even when athletes were spread across several disciplines. That matters for the Bulldogs as league and regional meets approach, because the team does not need a perfect day from one athlete to stay competitive.

The invitational drew Dove Creek, Lake City Community School, Moffat High School, Norwood High School, Nucla High School, Pagosa Springs High School and Sanford High School, giving the Bulldogs a solid gauge of where they stand against familiar Southwest Colorado competition. Pagosa Springs High School’s athletics page listed the Terry Alley results as part of its official schedule, and the meet’s return from 2025 showed it remains a regular stop on the spring calendar.

Dove Creek’s schedule kept moving quickly after the trip to Archuleta County, with a spring pep rally and track-baseball parent’s night set for May 5 and another track meet waiting in Grand Junction on May 6. The results from Pagosa Springs suggest the Bulldogs are entering that stretch with dependable scorers in the hurdles, throws and distance events, and enough depth to keep building toward the postseason.